Pascal Bidegorry

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Pascal Bidegorry (born 15 January 1968, in Bayonne is a French sailor.

BIOGRAPHY OF Pascal Bidégorry: A Trailblazer on the Open Seas

Pascal Bidégorry, born on January 8, 1968, in Bayonne, France, is a renowned sailor who has left an indelible mark on the world of offshore racing. With his exceptional skill, tenacity, and innovative spirit, Bidégorry has become a trailblazer in the realm of competitive sailing.

From an early age, Bidégorry showed a natural affinity for the sea. Growing up on the Basque coast, he was exposed to the rich maritime traditions of the region, fostering his love for sailing. Bidégorry honed his skills as a sailor through various competitions and local regattas, displaying a remarkable talent and determination that set him apart from his peers.

Bidégorry’s breakthrough moment came in 2005 when he competed in the famous Transat Jacques Vabre race, a transatlantic sailing event. He partnered with fellow sailor Lionel Lemonchois, and together they achieved an extraordinary victory aboard the trimaran “Banque Populaire.” This triumph propelled Bidégorry into the international spotlight, establishing him as a force to be reckoned with in the world of offshore racing.

Not content with resting on his laurels, Bidégorry continued to push the boundaries of his sport. In 2009, he set his sights on breaking the coveted transatlantic sailing record known as the Jules Verne Trophy. This challenging endeavor involves circumnavigating the globe, starting and finishing at the same point, while attempting to complete the journey in the shortest possible time.

Bidégorry assembled a talented crew and embarked on the grueling Jules Verne Trophy challenge aboard the maxi-trimaran “Banque Populaire V.” With his strategic brilliance and impeccable sailing skills, he led his team to victory, smashing the previous record by an astonishing 2 days, 8 hours, 46 minutes, and 39 seconds. This remarkable achievement firmly established Bidégorry as one of the most accomplished and respected sailors in the world.

Throughout his career, Bidégorry has continued to innovate and pursue new challenges. He has played a pivotal role in the development of cutting-edge sailing technology, collaborating with naval architects and engineers to design and optimize high-performance racing yachts. His contributions have not only enhanced his own performance but have also pushed the boundaries of what is possible in the world of offshore sailing.

Beyond his competitive endeavors, Bidégorry is known for his humility, sportsmanship, and dedication to promoting the sport of sailing. He has been an inspirational figure to aspiring sailors, sharing his knowledge and experiences through mentorship and public speaking engagements.

Today, Pascal Bidégorry’s name is synonymous with excellence in offshore racing. His daring exploits, record-breaking achievements, and unwavering passion for the sea have solidified his place in sailing history. As a true pioneer and innovator, Bidégorry continues to leave an indelible mark on the sport, inspiring future generations of sailors to push beyond their limits and embrace the vast possibilities of the open seas.

He joined Team Banque Populaire in 2004 as skipper of the Banque Populaire III trimaran. From February 2010 to April 2011, he was skipper of Banque Populaire V , the world’s largest ocean racing trimaran at 40 metres (130 ft) in length and campaigned the yacht in breaking ocean racing records.

Awards

  • 1995 / 1999:
    • 1st rookie in the 1995 French Figaro Single-Handed Championship sponsored by Serge Blanco
    • Winner of the French Figaro Championship (Crew) 1995 – 1996 – 1999;
    • 8m-J World Champion 1998;
    • Runner-up of France in the single-handed offshore race in 1999.
  • 2000:
    • winner of the  Solitaire du Figaro
    • Vice Champion of France in single-handed and crewed offshore regattas;
    • 3rd in Ag2r two-hand race Lorient-Saint Barth and winner of Praktikum (with Jérémie Beyou).
  • 2001:
    • 3rd while sailing the Tour France
    • Winner of the 60-foot World Multihull Championship  ;
    • Winner of the French Mumm30 Championship.
  • 2002:
    • 2nd while sailing the Tour de France
    • winner of the Fécamp Grand Prix in a 60-foot multihull;
    • Lorient Grand Prix winner in a 60-foot multihull;
    • French Figaro Championship winner (crew);
    • Participated in the Volvo Ocean Race (Auckland/Rio stage) on SEB.
  • 2003:
    • 4. in the Solitaire du Figaro (Aquitaine region)
    • French Figaro Championship Winner (Team);
    • 3rd place in the BPE Trophy (Saint-Nazaire/Dakar) in doubles and winner of the 2nd stage (with Charles Caudrelier)
    • Winner of the Fécamp Grand Prix in a 60-foot multihull.
  • 2004:
    • 2. in the Transat “Lorient-St-Barth” with Sidney Gavignet on the Banque Populaire
    • Captain of Volksbank60-foot multihull
  • 2005:
    • Winner of the 60-foot World Multihull Championship  ;
    • Winner of the two-handed Transat Jacques Vabre in a 60-foot multihull (with Lionel Lemonchois);
    • Winner of the IB Group Challenge in einem 60-Fuß -Mehrrumpfboot.
  • 2006:
    • 2nd in the Route du Rhum in the 60ft multihull ORMA class
    • 2nd place at the London-Alpes-Maritimes in a 60 foot multihull;
    • Record transatlantic crossing in 4 days 8 Stunden 23 Minuten und 54 Sekunden bei durchschnittlich 28 Knoten on die Orange II  ;
    • Record for distance traveled over 24 hours ( 766 miles ).
  • 2007:
    • Construction of the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V (largest ocean-going multihull ever built);
    • 3rd in the Transat Jacques-Vabre in a two-handed boat in a 60-foot multihull (with Yvan Ravussin);
    • Holder of the record for distance traveled over 24 hours in one60-foot multihull ( 667 miles );
    • 2nd placeat theCalais Round Britain Race in einem 60-Fuß -IMOCA monohull.
  • 2008;
    • Alinghi- Sparringspartner beim America’s Cup;
    • Captain of the Maxi Banque Populaire V  : launch of the trimaran;
    • 2nd in the SNSM record in 60-foot multihull.
  • 2009:
    • world champion in ocean records on a maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V;
    • Record holder for the manned sail crossing of the North Atlantic in 3 days, 15 hours, 25 minutes and48 seconds , at an average speed of 32.94 knots;
  • 2010:
    • Holder of the record for crossing the Mediterranean Sea (Marseille – Carthage, 455 miles) with a crew in 14 hours , 20 minutes and 34 seconds at an average speed of 31.7 knots on the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V;
    • Catamaran Captain Decision 35  : Winner of the Julius Baer Challenge with 8 podiums in the 8 events  ;
    • 3rd place in the Clairefontaine Trophy.
  • 2011:
    • attempt for the Jules Verne trophy with the maxi trimaran Banque Populaire V;
    • Poor Race winner in a 50-foot multihull;
    • Grand Prix Guyader and Défi Guyader winner in a 50-foot multihull;
    • Krys Match Race Winner ( MOD 70 );
    • 3rd place in the Clairefontaine Trophy.
  • 2012:
    • winner of the Krys Ocean Race on the MOD 70 Spindrift Racing
    • Multi One Championship Winner ( MOD 70 );
    • 2nd place at the European Tour ( MOD 70 );
    • Winner of the Grand-Prix Guyader and Défi Guyader in a 60-foot IMOCA monohull (Safran).
  • 2013:
    • Winner of Spi Ouest France (Open Tactician 7.50 Saffron );
    • Azimut Challenge winner (IMOCA 60 Tactician Safran );
    • 2.in the Transat Jacques-Vabre in a two-handed boat in an IMOCA 60 monohull ( with Marc Guillemot);
    • 3rd place in the Prince de Bretagne European Round in the MOD 70 .
  • 2015:
    • Winner of the Zweihand-Transat Jacques Vabre auf MACIF Ultime with François Gabart.
  • 2018:
    • Winner of the Volvo Ocean Race (on board the Dongfeng Race Team) as navigator.

Awards

Pascal Bidégorry has been a Knight of the Legion of Honor since 2009.

He received the RMC Sport Awards for Victory of the Year 2015.